Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-10-13

across his mind at Mr.. Mason's men
lion of the loss of his wife's fur-lined
circular. was speeding through the
rection of Potter's.
For, an hour or so before, while
walking the hotel piazza, pending the
arrival of the stage, Tad's eyes.
which, generally speaking, were every
where, happened to glance through
one of the long windows into the
dingy apartments dignifed by the name
of Ladies' Parlor," where, rather to
his surprise, he noticed richly attired.
lady, with vail before her face, sitting
on the worn, hair-cloth sofa. Guests
were not common at Potter's-
ticularly well-dressed ladies-and Tad,
secretly marveling, gave this one more
particular attention as he walked to and
fro. One thing struck him as being
rather peculiar, which was that, de-
spite the warmth of the July evening,
the stranger wore over her other APP
parel long silk circular, very similar
to the one which had played so impor-
tant part in his own exodus from the
city, even to the fur lining, of which
he caught tiny glimpse.
Joe Whitney had joined him in his
walk, and, noticing the direction of his
gaze, had whispered confidentially:
"Say, that's my assenger-Potter's
goin' to give me quarter to drive her
over to Middleboro, to catch the
train cause he can't spare the hostler.
She's in big hurry" added Joe, with
a gleeful chuckle, so they harness
ing up Brown Pete, and there isn't but
one better trotter in the stable-that's
POtter's sorrel mare, and she's a regu-
lar hier." For Joe, like most boys,
was very fond of fast horse, and, be-
ing an excellent driver for his years,
obtained gratuitous rides and occasion
al quarters by taking occasional pas
sengers to their different destinations
for Mr.. Potter.
But the arrival of the stage, with Mr..
Atherton and one other passenger-a
small, silent man, who only spoke in
monosyllables, whose features Tad
could not distinguish in the gathering
darkness-drove JOe's communication
and the mysterious occupant of the par
lor, alike, from his mind, till after the
| discovery of the robbery of Mrs. Ma
sons room, when, as | have said, her
husbands sudden reference to the loss
of the cloak caused new idea to occur
to him, which brought the incident just
narrated freshly to mind, and sent him
rushing from the room. Not only this,
| but, growing into an almost certainty
as he hurried along, it added such
speed to his flying feet that, on his ar
rival at Potter's, in flushed and
heated condition, Tad stumbled almost
| head-first against the small, silent man
who had been Mr.. Atherton's fellow
passenger, as he was walking the piazza
with cigar in his mouth. Hastily ex-
cusing himself, Tad burst into the Of
flee, where Mr.. Potter, who weighed
nearly three hundred pounds, was sit
| ting in his shirt-sleeves, reading the
Nea0 England Farmer.
Say, Mr.. Potter" gasped Tad.
breathlessly, chow long has Joe been
gone with that person-passenger
the long black cloak?"
"Eh?" responded Mr.. Potter, look
ing up from his paper and speaking
with aggravating deliberation, show
long? Lemme see. Mira" raising
his voice for the benefit of his wife, in
the other room, chow long that young
Whitney ben away with that air lady
passenger-the one in such tremen-
dous hurry to git to Middleborrer?"
Tad, with feverish impatience,
awaited the answer. The small man
on the piazza, near the open door, must
have been of a rather inquisitive nat
ure; for, holding his cigar between his
fingers, and his head little to one
side, he, too, seemed to listen for Mrs.
Potter's response.
pretty nigh half n hour" called
Mrs. Potter, through the half-open
door. "Why, who wants to know?"
"Me-Tad Thorne, Mrs. Potter" ex-
claimed Tad, in an agitated voice, and
oh, Mr.. Potter! 'front.' you have the sor-
rel mare put right in quick, so 1 can
drive off after her-I mean him
dressed up in Mrs. Mason's cloak, and
| catch 'em before he-she-gets to Mid
dleboror'
"Why, what on earth is the matter
with you?" demanded Mrs. Potter, with
some asperity, as she bounced into the
Office.
Its that Forrest - his name is
Jones-I mean Edwards" poor Tad
exclaimed, incoherently, "he's stole
Mr.. Atherton's handbag, full of
di'muns and papers, and dressed up in
Mrs. Mason's clothes and cloak
''Mr. Potteri" interrupted quick
and somewhat imperious voice, pro-
ceeding from the smoker of the piazza,
who, flinging his cigar aside, suddenly
appeared inside the door, "have your
fastest horse put into light buggy,